Wild Water Racing

Wild Water Racing

Wild Water Racing

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Aim

The aim of Wild Water Racing is to race your kayak/canoe as fast as you can down a stretch of white water rapids. Wild Water Racing is an exciting and challenging discipline, combining the speed and endurance of flatwater racing with the technical aspects of slalom racing. You race against the clock and normally competitors start at minute intervals to avoid having to overtake people on the way down the river. This is a thrilling challenge - it's up to you to find the optimum racing line down the river and to pace yourself so that you finish in the shortest possible time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Aim?

The aim is to move your kayak/canoe as fast as you can down a stretch of white water. You race against the clock and normally competitors start at minute intervals to avoid having to overtake people on the way down the river. This is a thrilling challenge - it's up to you to find the optimum line down the river and to pace yourself so that get there in the shortest possible time. Two Types of WWR Race - Classic & Sprint.

What type of races are there?

Classic Wild Water Race - Classic Races are normally 3 miles or so in length and take 10-20 minutes depending on the course, river level... and yes.. your paddling speed and skill level.

Sprint Wild Water Race - Sprint Races involve two runs down a shorter course of usually 500-1000 metres in length with the times added together in order to calculate the final results.

What boat can I use?

Just as in other disciplines such as Sprint, Marathon and Slalom you can race in either Kayak or Canoe. In kayaks you sit in the boat and use a double ended paddle and in canoes you kneel and use a single ended blade. Wild water racing craft are designed to travel fast through the water while having enough volume to stay on top of the waves on rapids. Whereas people race individually in the kayak (K1) class you have a choice or racing alone (C1) or in pairs (C2) in the canoe class.

Can I borrow a boat to start with?

Yes. The Committee have a number of plastic wild water racing boats called Wavehoppers which you can use to get you started. You get a time allowance against composite boats.

Can I use other types of boat if I want to?

Yes. We welcome people in slalom boats or other general purpose boats at all events and, depending on numbers, you may find there is even a separate class.